Color plate and printing form registering machine



Dec. 3 1940- E. B. B-ECCARD COLOR PLATE AND PRINTING FORM REGISTERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1939 INVENTOR EMIL BRUNO BECCARD WWW ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES COLOR PLATE AND PRINTINGFORM REGISTERING MACHINE Emil Bruno Beccard, St. Louis, Mo. Application October 5, 1939, Serial No. 297,987

2, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in color plate and Printing form registering machines the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

More particularly this invention relates to a device for registering color plates and printing forms used by the printing and lithographing int dustry and allied amliates and the main objects of my invention are to provide means first, for

accurately locating on each of a series of lithographs or printing forms enclosed in separate frames, the position of each portion of the color plate or printing form so that superposed color portions will accurately register to form the fin ished impression and desired, color; second, to provide such a device that will receive and hold uniformly the separate frames or chases and contained color plate forms and accurately indicate the position of the respectivecolor portions to assist the printer in accurately locating the super osed color portions to make the finished color plate and printing; third, to facilitate the adr} justment of the indicating points and their respectivepositions defining said color portions or printing forms; fourth,to facilitate the removal of the indicating points and their adjustable carrier blocks on their respective supporting bars, from the supporting posts and platen over which they are adjustably located; fifth, for holding the supporting bars of the carrier blocks rigidly in their proper adjusted positions yet allow removal and accurate replacement of the bars and their indicating points after such adjustment in regard to said color portions; and other objects and features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In color printing it is desirableto accurately locate different colors in the design being made 40 and in which a foundation color is superposed by another color to make the desired tint or shade in the finished design. When the separate impressions are successively made, great careis nec- 4' essary that they register accurately and such registration ordinarily requires time "and care to attain. l'

My device not only attains'accurate registration of the color portions of the design, but greatly 50 reduces the time previously required and thereby reduces the cost of the finished product and increases the output and profit inproducing the finished color plate in practically perfect condition;

55' -In the accompanying drawing in'which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts-z Fig; 1 represents a perspective'view in isometric projection of a bed plate having upstanding corner posts supporting longitudinal parallel bars arranged in staggered position at diiferent 5 heights, and transverse bars thereon having slidably adjustable ,blocks provided with depending pins by which the positions-of color portions in a frame mounted on the bed plate are located; 3

Fig. 2, a transverse central sectional elevation on 2-'-2 of Fig. .1

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail in vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing a portion of an indicating pin adjustably mounted in its carrier block longitudinal guiding bar for one end of a transverse pin-supporting bar.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates a rectangular bed plate having at its corners upstanding posts 2 -2 forming opposing pairs at the sides of said bed plate. Both pairs of the posts are provided on their opposing faces with U-shaped projections 3, arranged at differ ent heights in a staggered series, each projection 3 being located successively further from the central longitudinal vertical plane in ascending order so that each lower projection in posts 2 and its corresponding projection in post 2', are a shorter distance apart than the next projection above, and the successive pairs of projections above in the staggered series are similarly spaced.

These U-shaped or other projections rom 35 supports for parallel longitudinal bars connecting the opposing posts 22 at one side of the bed plate. a Theposts 22' on the opposite side of the bed'plate are provided on their opposing faces with similar staggered projections located respectively in horizontal planes through the corresponding projections on the opposite posts 2-2. Longitudinal bars are carried in said pro:

jections 3 andare readily lifted from theirsupporting projections by the preferred staggered arrangement providing successively wider distance apart in ascending direction of the projections 3 from the opposing pair 2-2 atone side I of the bed plate,. and the corresponding pair '50 2'2 at the other side of the bed plate as shown inFig;1. p:

, The said longitudinal bars are preferably dif-r ferent; the bars 4 connecting the posts 2-4 at H one side being preferably round rods supported in Thejournal ends '5' allow the bar 5' to turn corresponding opposing projections 3 on the posts 22, while the longitudinal bars 5 at the opposite side of the plate have round ends 5', Fig. 4, similarly fitting the respective projections from the posts 22', but having rectangular intermediate portions and each provided with a groove 6 in the upper face to serve as a guide for a wheel I mounted on a journal end 8 of a connecting transverse bar 9 which has on its opposite end a notch ill onits underside or otherwise fitting on therespectiveside-bar 4 and temporarily secured in its adjusted position by a thumb screw ll mounted in the respective bar 4, or otherwise clamped.

The Wheel 1 fits snugly in theguiding notch 6 of its bar 5 as indicated in Fig. 2 and tends to maintain the adjacent end of the transverse bar at right angles to the bar 5 in any adjusted position of the transverse bar connectingthe respective pair of side bars as shown in Fig? 1- adjustable on the adjacent longitudinalbar '4 and is. provided with thumb screw 'orother clamp ingdevice by 'which'its e'ng'agement'can be'fixd' toits bar 4, so that the bar 4, clamped tothe transverse bar 9 can' be lifted out offlthe U- L shaped projections on the posts ,2-2 and the otherwise after adjustmenh as bars remain clamped together. Thewheel and groove of the opposite end of the bar are preferably'disengaged leaving the 'bar 5 in position.

slightly when such disengagement is' effected, and such slight rotation of the bar" 5faci1'itates disengagement of the wheel from its groove; other suitable detachable" engagement insteadof the wheel and groove connection may be used. Each bar 9 has a block [2 slidably mounted thereon and provided with a thumb scr'ewlS, or other suitable clamping means to fix it temporarily in its adjustedposition on itstransverse ,bar 9. V j

Vertically mounted in said sliding 'block is a pin 14 threadedor' otherwise adapted ;fojrfvertical adjustment of its lower 'po ntlwith' regard to the corner or other distinctiveportion"of a co'lorplate or printing form ISfthatis adjust; able in" and then is firmly secured-in, a 'ch'a'sefor frame [6 disposed on thej bed'plate to which said frameis fastened by screws H3 or otherwise, and said form is firmlysecuredby wedges 'Il, or indicated f in F j. "The chase" and its contained form thus be-' come a unit and all points ontheforrn'ar fixed relative'to the screws l8 holding the chase to the bedplate. v *1 The points of the pins Hi can be then brought adjacent to corners or other distinctive points; of the colorportions on the form by sliding the transverse bars on'thelorigitudihal bars-and respectively 'adjustingutheir sliding blocks 12. thereon. The points of the pins are th'en ad-. justed. vertically into close-proximity tothe distinctive points of-the icolor plate by adjusting them downward in their :threaded connection with the carrier blocks (see Fig.1) When such adjustment is completed the respective bars 4 are clamped to the adjacent ends of the transver'se barsby the thumb screwsiil orl'otherwise, and then the bars'. and" the respective ltransverse-bars 91 c'an breadily' lifted in their clamped together condition from the projections 3 supporting the bars 4, while the opposite end of the transverse bars can be disengaged from the bars 5 on the other side of the bed plate which are preferably left in position on their supports.

The screws l8 holding the chase and. its contained form to the bed plate, are then removed and the chase and form as fixed within it are placed on a suitable press and fastened by screws thereto ready for printing'th'e first color of the design.

Another chase and form is then fastened to the bed plate by the screws l8 and one or more of the pins with their connected transverse and longitudinal bars are then replaced and their indicating points are thus located in the same position as'they were first located with regard to the first--form. This second form is then shifted so that the pin points will be located over "Wthesaine portions by which they were positioned in the first form, by moving the form in its chase till its position is identical, relative to, the: pin points,'as' was the first'form. Th'e wedgesv H, or other fastening meansfthen securely "fasten this second form in its chase so that one or more of the pins are again located over corresponding portions of the design.

viously described, and this second form and its chase are removed from'the bed plate, and transferred to the printing press on which it will be 7 secured by 1 the screws I8 or other fastening means thatwilllocate the second form for printing the second color of the proposed design in exactlythe relative positions of thecolor por-j tions to the'color previously'inipressed'.-

A third or successive color portionisylocatedf a similar manner by fastening a third chase to the bed plate, replacing the bars in; their supportingprojections and thus relocating the a pin points for indicating the precedingcol'ors in the-same positions in 'the air as before; This third form'is then shiftedinthe chaseuntil the previouslyadjusted' pin points arelocated over the identical portions they define in their'pre-j viousadjustmcnts. The wedges-or otherffast'enin'g rneans then firmly secure the formi in its chase and make the chase and its contained form a unit as previously described. The third color portions beingthen defined by adjusting other' pin' points. over definite port-iohs "of the form froin'which thethird color willbe printed, thje bars and their points are removed as before, al low this third chase and its form tobe taken from the bed plate and mounted in the printing press for-printing the desired third color which tion tothe other parts of the. design, and any danger of overlapping or 'misprintinga-of. this,v v

scratching the forms Then; the pin points are will be accurate'l'yimpressed in its proper rela'- lowered .to "their-exact position. to; locat'e zthelit form-accurately i .7 c v Oneendaofith'e transverse barsis reduced or tapered at l9 to facilitate mounting the care.

rier blocks on their respective transversebars;

The' carrier blocks. support: thepins offset at one. side of the respective transverse bar as shown inFig. 1,'and the-blocks may be reversed upon the transverse bar as shown inFig. 1, so that two pins can be located ,apcomparatively short distance apart when such is required by the color in the design in the form below.

Thus it will be understood from the above description, that any reasonable number of colors or portions of a printing form can be designated by a multiple number of pins suitably adjusted with regard to definite portions of the design, and then successive forms and their respective chases can be successively positioned on the bed plate and the forms shifted to accord with the points previously fixed so that each form will print accurately its respective color after its transfer to the printing press for such purpose.

The size of my device and the number of bars is shown for illustration only, as it is evident that the size of said device may be provided according to the size of the chase and its enclosed form which in some cases may be relatively larger than shown in the illustrations. The holes in the bed plate and the screws l8 are located. identically with those in the printing press and thus locate in the press the color portions for the respective color, in the same relative position as the other color portions on the other forms in their respectively enclosing chase. It is evident that such accuracy is obtained by my device that cannot be obtained otherwise except by an expenditure of much more time and effort than is required in the use of my device.

The different lengths of the transverse bars carrying the pins with indicating points, facilitate the removal of the transverse bars and the longitudinal bars to which they are clamped. Such differences of length also facilitate replacement of the several bars in their former position so as to bring the indicating points in the same position as before, and thus allow shifting the succeeding color plates or forms within their respective chases which have been fastened to the bed plate and thus definitely locate on each form in identical positions, the indicating points previously defining the prior forms. Then one or more points are positioned over portions of the form which are to receive another color for printing the finished design and thus provide for obtaining the accuracy of all the color portions successively printed.

To recapitulate, in color printing a set of separate forms each adapted to print an individual color in the design are loosely mounted in their individual frames and after the frames are fixed to the bed plate by the screws I8 or otherwise, each is then adjusted in its frame to accord with the previously positioned indicating pin points, that indicate the previous color or colors on the prior forms. For example, the form for printing the first or foundation color of the design is wedged in its frame that has been screwed to the bed plate. Then some of the pin points are positioned over definite points of the first color portion of the form thus fixed in its frame and the position of this first color portion is indicated by the pin points which thus show the relative position of this foundation color portion to the fastening screws of the frame; the pin points being then clamped in said position on their supporting bars, can be lifted with their clamped together bars from above the form which is then readily removed from the bed plate and transferred to the printing press on which then it is fixed by the screws or other fastening means in its operative position.

Another form of the set together with its frame in which it is loosely mounted, is then placed on the bed plate and then fastening means for its frame secures the frame to the bed plate; then the bars with their indicating pins relatively clamped thereto, are replaced in their supports and the pin points assume the same position as on the first form by which they were located. The second form is then shifted in its frame till the indicating points are positioned over the same color portion by which they were located over the first-form. This second form having been thus adjusted by means of the indicating pin points, it is wedged in its frame and becomes a unit with it. Other pin points are then adjusted over other different points of another color portion and are clamped in such indicating position similarly to the pin points indicating the foundation or prior color portion.

The second color portion being thus indicated with regard to the first color portion and likewise to the screws fastening its frame to the bed plate, its form and chase can be removed from the bed plate after the pin points and their supporting bars have been lifted off, and this second frame and its form fixed therein, can be placed on the printing press and secured thereto in the same position as the prior frames and forms. Such identical positions successively of the set of forms that may be required for the multiple colors, insures that each color successively impressed in making the design, will be accurately located in its correct position without overlapping or otherwise making an inaccurate assembling of the various color portions in the design.

It is therefore plain that each chase or frame is identically placed with regard to the screws or means for fastening or looking the frame successively on a printing press, but that each form differs by having the portion of its surface that prints the respective color in a raised position relative to the other color portions so as to receive the appropriate color thereon; and that by shifting each form in its frame when the latter is fixed on the bed plate, so that the raised portion of each successive form is located by the previously adjusted indicating pin points over prior portions of the design, the said raised portion of each succeeding form is located in its proper relative position in its frame and then wedged in said position, that thereby it is positioned accurately with respect to the other portions, so that when the form with its frame is transferred to the printing press and locked or secured thereon in a position identical with that of prior forms from which the colors have been printed, that the succeeding color impression will be accurately located or registered on the design being printed.

I do not confine myself to the exact construction above described, except by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A color plate and printing form registering machine comprising a bed plate having four posts in two pairs on respective sides, said posts having two series of projections on the opposing faces of each pair respectively arranged staggered in opposite lateral directions increasing the horizontal distance between the two series in succession upward, longitudinal bars supported by said projections. transverse bars adjustably car- 2; A color plate and printing form registering machine as in claim 1, said projections being U- shaped for lifting out insuccession said'longitudinal' bars and their transverse bars respectively clamped thereto, and for replacing them againv in their former position.

EMIL BRUNO BECCARD. 

